Our eyes and vision change with age. Your eye doctor can monitor these changes and identify any eye conditions or diseases early enough to treat them and prevent vision loss.

Age-Related Eye Conditions and Diseases

Cataracts

If your vision is starting to get blurry, you may be developing cataracts. A nuclear cataract, caused by aging, can initially lead to increased nearsightedness or a temporary improvement in reading vision, before gradually turning the lens yellow, cloudy, or even brown. Cataract surgery, where the cloudy lens is replaced with a clear one, is an extremely safe and effective treatment option.

Blepharoptosis

Ptosis is a drooping of the upper eyelid that may affect one or both eyes. It occurs when there is a weakness of the eye's levator muscle that lifts the eyelid. Fortunately, blepharoptosis can be corrected with surgery.

Vitreous Detachment

This occurs when the gel-like vitreous fluid inside the eye begins to liquefy and pull away from the retina, causing spots, floaters, and sometimes flashes of light. While usually harmless, these symptoms can also signal a detached retina — a serious condition that can cause blindness. If you experience sudden or worsening flashes and increased floaters, see your eye doctor immediately.

Other Age-Related Changes

Presbyopia

Starting in your 40s and 50s, the lens inside the eye begins to lose its ability to change shape and bring near objects into focus. This is called presbyopia, also known as age-related farsightedness. You may need multiple prescriptions or progressive lenses.

Reduced Pupil Size

As we age, our pupils become smaller and less responsive to changes in lighting, making it harder to see clearly in low-light settings.

Dry Eye

Tear glands produce fewer tears with less moisturizing oils as we age. Your eye doctor can recommend the right over-the-counter or prescription eye drops or other treatments to alleviate dryness.

Loss of Peripheral Vision

Aging causes a gradual loss of peripheral vision. While this is normal, it can also indicate the presence of a serious eye disease like glaucoma. The best way to determine the cause is to get an eye exam.

Decreased Color Vision

The cells in the retina responsible for normal color vision decline as we age, causing colors to become less bright. Faded colors can at times signal a more serious ocular problem.

To find out more and to schedule your annual eye doctor's appointment, contact Dayton Optometric Center in Kettering, Ohio at (937) 228-2020 today.